Home Painting Dos and Don’ts

Our pros share their best tips and what to avoid in your next painting project. Here are our home painting dos and don’ts. We have painted many homes in the Thousand Oaks area and know a thing or two about best practices when painting a home.

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DO opt to buy a quart before you commit to a color and buy a large quantity. More often than not, homeowners test a color they loved in the store on their wall and end up changing their mind.

DO consider investing in a good painting tray. It will make the job easier. Make clean up a cinch by putting aluminum foil in it prior to putting paint in.

DO try to order paint all at once. If you have to have more mixed at a later time, there is a good chance the color won’t match exactly. It’s better to over order once, than try to match the color later.

DON’T skimp on rollers and brushes. The higher quality brushes and rollers provide better coverage and make the job go smoother.

Prep

DO prep the area. The time it takes to remove furniture, art and hardware will save you more while you’re painting and taping. Move your furniture to the center of the room if it cannot be removed completely.

DO get your supplies together before you start the job. Nobody wants to run out – mid paint – to get another brush or roller. Trips to the hardware store slow everyone down, and you’ll run the risk of your paint drying out while you’re gone.

DON’T wear clothes you are fond of. You will get paint on you, so wear clothing that is reserved for house work, or you don’t mind ruining with splatters.

Painting

DO prime! Priming creates an even layer for new colors to stick to. This is particularly important if you are changing the color drastically. Primer can even be tinted to be closer to your color you are painting to help he efforts.

DON’T rush. This project will take longer than you plan. Don’t try to rush or you’ll likely end up with a big mess.

DON’T paint out of order. Painting should be done from top to bottom. Start with the ceiling, then do the walls. Next is the woodwork and doors, and finally the floor.

DO plan on more than one coat. If you are painting a particularly vivid color, it can even take three to get the desired color.

DON’T mix the kinds of paint you are using. Using latex on oil – and vice versa – can ruin the paint job. To switch from one kind of paint to another, you’ll need to sand the walls down completely, and clean them with a tack cloth. Primer must be used, in the same format as the intended color.

DON’T paint wallpaper. It should go without saying, but you must remove wallpaper before you try to paint.

DO ventilate! Keep air flowing through your workspace. Keep doors and windows open, and allow for cross breeze where possible.

After

DO put away any extra paint, properly sealed, for future touch ups.

DON’T let your brushes dry out before you clean them. The dried paint will make it impossible to clean and reuse.

DO clean the rim of the can before you put the lid back on. Hammer it down to save viscosity and potentially use it again.

DON’T put your paint in the garbage. Check with your local waste authority to find out how and where to properly dispose of paint.

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